Folding bed



W. D. DRIVER June 29, 1954 FOLDING BED Filed March 24, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l Httnrnag 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. D. DRIVER FOLDING BED June 29, 1954 Filed March 24, 1951 Htturne.

W. D. DRIVER June 29, 1954 FOLDING BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 24, 1951 ln But-Dr LP'RE June 29, 1954 I w. D. DRIVER 2,682,060

FOLDING BED I Filed March 24, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5/ rm m a i m /W F wmwww n m mu nu Q a/ 1m L1 7 m m w a I w m S w .L q I m 1 u I. J T AT HU d, a l I I'll, l l lu w L df K/J Q 9 w Patented June 29, 1954 UNITED STATEiii FOLDING BED Wilfred D. Driver; Thcssalcn Township, Algoma District, Ontario, Canada My invention relates to improvements in folding bed structures of the type wherein the folding bed, when in the closed vertical position, is contained within a cabinet which may be ar' ranged against a wall of the room in which the bed is contained, or set within a suitable recess.

lhe object of the invention is to provide an open faced cabinet having a pair of stationary vertical side members and between which a mat tress containing frame is pivotally mounted intermediately of its length, whereby it may be swung from a vertical position between the side members to a horizontal position extending outwardly from the side members and inwardly between the side members.

A further object of the invention is to secure a panel to the underface of the mattress containing frame, the panel forming a closure for the open face of the cabinet when the mattress containing frame is in the vertical position within the cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to insert a counter-balancing spring element between the in ner end of the mattress containing frame and the lower inner portion of the cabinet, whereby the spring element counter-balances the weight of the mattress containing frame when it is being swung into the open or closed position; a blanket retaining board being also contained within the cabinet and hingedly secured to the inner end of the mattress containing frame and moveable from one substantially vertical position to another as the mattress containing frame is swung.

A still further object of my invention is to position a piece of furniture in front of the mattress frame panel when the panel is in the vertical position and to provide actuatable means connecting the piece of furniture to the folding bed structure, whereby it may accommodate itself or be accommodated to the downwardly swinging movement of the panel when the mattress containing frame is swung downwardly.

An alternative object of the invention is to per manently attach a piece of furniture simulating a fireplace to the front face of the panel and which will swing downwardly therewith with the downward movement of the mattress containing frame.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as shall appear, my invention consists of a folding bed structure constructed and -arranged-all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the folding bed structure to which a swingable piece of furniture simulating a fireplace is attached, and showing the bed in the downwardly swung or open position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken through the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the structure as illustrated in Fig. 1, and showing the bed in the closed position within the cabinet.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the lower portion of the closed structure, being taken through the line i4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure arrangement as shown in Fig. 3, the rearward portion of the top face of the cabinet being broken away to disclose the blanket board assembly positioned therebeneath.

Fig, 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the closed structure, being taken through the line 56,Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the lower portion of an alternative form of structure, wherein a piece of furniture simulating a fireplace is attached to the front face of the panel secured to the mattress containing frame, the View illustrating the structure in the closed position.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the portion of the structure shown in Fig. 7, being taken through the line 3-8, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of the lower portion of the closed structure, showing a folding settee positioned in front of and operatively secured to the front. face of the mattress containing frame panel.

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 9, showing the bed in the open position and the settee in the folded position therebeneath, and

Fig. 11 is a similar View to Fig. 10, showing the mattress containing frame in the closed position within the cabinet and the open settee posi tioned in front of the vertical panel.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the dilferent views of the drawlngs.

Referring to all of the drawings, the open faced cabinet comprises a pair of vertical par allel side members 2 having a top piece 3 extending between their upper edges. A back e extends between the rear edges of the side memhere 2, with its lower edge spaced away from the floor upon whichthe structure rests.

The mattress containing frame 5 is of rectangular form and is pivotally mounted upon pins ii carried upon the inner faces of the side members 2 intermediately of the length of the mattress containing frame. The design of the structure is such that the mattress containing frame, when in the closed vertical position, is contained within the cabinet and when in the horizontal position extends outwardly from the cabinet side members and inwardly between the cabinet side members. A rectangular panel! issecured to the under-face of the-mattress containing frame 5 and is so dimensioned that it forms a closure for the open face of the cabinet when the mat.- tress containing frame is in the vertical position. The mattress containing frame contains a mattress 3 of standard size and. construction.

To furnish a counter-balance for the weight of the bed, when being swung, a pair of coiled springs 9 are provided to extendfrom the" rear corners in of the cabinet to links or cables I! which are secured to a swingable arm 12" pivotally attached by a hinge 53 to the inner end of the mattress containing frame 5'. An arm supporting bracket i3 is also attached to the inner end of the mattress containing frame 5' and positioned underneath the swingable arm' 12 to engage said arm and retain it in the" horizontal position when the bed is open; as illustrated in Fig. 1. When the" bed is being swung to the closed position within the cabinet, the springs 9 swing from a vertical planeinto a substantially horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 6, wherein they are in alignment with the arm 12 which has swung away from the bracket l3. Upon reference to Fig. 6, it willbe seen that by this construction the counter-balancing spring arrangement takes up very little space at the bot-- tom of the cabinet when the bed' is closed, thus permitting a very compact design.

A blanket retaining board is hingedly secured to the upper edge of the head or inner end of the mattress containing frame 5. The" board is formed of upper andlower sections l4 and I5 which are connected together by' hinges it at their abutting edges; In order to retain the upper section it in alignment" with the lower section lfiwhen the bed is in the open position. as illustrated in Fig. 1, a" vertical brace member H is attached to" the front face of the upper section it and extends downwardly in front of the lower section IS. A second brace member it is carried upon the'front face of the lower section I5 and is positioned in alignment with the upperbrace member l'l. It will thus be understood that the-lower section l8 may swing rearwardly at an angletothe upper section, as shown'inFig. 6, but is restrained from swinging forwardly out of" alignment with the upper section H, as'shown in 1. The lower blanket board section l5 carries a forwardly extending ledge is substantially at right angles thereto and pivotally connected by hinges 20 to the upper edge of the inner head end of the mattress containing frame '55 To retain the blanket board sections 14' and I5 tightly against the-bedding when thebed is in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 6, a swingable arm 2i is pivot-ally securedto'the lower portion of the cabinet'bacle 4 to extend'forwardly and press against the back face of the blanket board section l4 when the bed is" in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 6.. The arm" isv resiliently held against. the" section l4? under the influence of an elongatable spiral spring 22 which is secured at its lower end to the: back face of the blanket boardsection I5 and at its upper end to the arm 21- intermediately ofv its length,

When the bed is swung downwardly into the open position, as shown in Fig. 1, the blanket board moves upwardly and inwardly under the influence of the upward and inward swinging movement of the inner end of the mattress containing frame, and this movement causes the lower end of the spring 22 to approach and swing above the arm. 2i, whereby the tension upon the spring is released;

To prevent the blanket board sections M and I5. from following the mattress downwardly to the horizontal position when the bed is being opened, a length of cable 52 is attached at one end to the inner face of the blanket board section It and at the other end to a vertical eye bolt 23' which is carried upon a cross-member 24forming'a" reinforcement for the cabinet back a. The ends of the cross-member 24 are anchored to the side members 2 of the cabinet by corner brackets 25, whereby the cross-member is rigidly secured. As the eye-bolt 23 may be adjusted in height within the cross-member 24, the operating length of the cable 52 may be adjusted.-

When the bedis being swung from the'vertical closed position to the horizontal open position, the blanket board swings with and follows the mattress until the cable 52 is fully extended. The continued downward swinging movement of the bed, wherein the inner end of the mattress containing frame 5 swings upwardly and inwardly, causes the blanket board to be lifted up wardly and moved rearwardly into the position shown in Fig. 1. In order to accurately counterbalance the weight of the swinging bed, two or more springs 9 may be connected together in place of the single pair of springs 91' as shown, the additional springs may be either weaker or stronger depending upon the counter-balancing requirements.

The front edge of the cabinet top El is designed to carry a forwardly projecting ledge .26 and" in the front recessed edge of which a tubular electric light 21 is contained. The outer end leg section 28- supporting the mattress frame 5' is designed to be positioned underneath the ledge 23 when the bed isin the closed position, as shownin-Fig. 6i The'led'ge 26 is detachably secured tothe cabinet top and the leg section 28 is detachably secured to the mattress frame, so that for the purpose of'transportation the projecting ledge and leg section may be detached.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the piece of furniture 2'3 simulating a fireplace and mantel piece isnormally positioned in front of the panel 1 when the bed is in the closed position. The piece of furniture is connected to one of the side members 2 of the cabinet by ahinge 30 and is supported upon a plurality of fiber engagingcastors 3|, whereby the piece of furniture may be readily rolled from a position in front ofthe panel 1 toan outwardly swung position in order that the bed may be lowered. To compensate for anyinequalities in the floor, the hinge 30 has its feat 32' pivotallyattached to the piece of furniture so that the piece of'furniture is always supported bythe castors 3| and not bythe hinge. To open the bed thepiece of furniture 29 is swung to one side and the panel T grasped by any suitably positioned handle on the face thereof and the bed' swung downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 6' to the position shown in Fig. 1.

If it is desired to obtain privacy; for an occupant of the bed, a cloth shield may be used to extend from the cabinetto' the foot of thebed on one side of the mattress'containing frame 5. In the drawings I show such a cloth shield 33 of substantially triangular shape and attached at its upper corner to a spring 34 contained within the upper corner of the cabinet and at its forward corner attached to the foot of the mattress containing frame at one corner thereof. The shield is maintained against drooping by a rod 35 carried by the shield.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate an alternative arrangement, wherein a piece of furniture 36 simulating a fireplace is secured to the front of the panel l. The fireplace includes a pair of side members 3'! which flank the fireplace aperture 38 and are so arranged that their bottom edges as are spaced away from the floor upon which the structure rests in order to provide a clearance whereby such lower edges may swing downwardly and rearwardly into the cabinet when the bed is swung into the open position. To shield the clearance spaces underneath the bottom edges as of the side members 31, a pair of U-shaped base board members 40 rest upon the floor in front of and along the sides of the vertical and side planes of the front and side faces of the side members 37. The base board members 49 are fixed in place and the lower portions side members swing away therefrom when the bed is opened.

In Figs. 9 to 11 an arrangement is shown wherein a folding seat is positioned in front of and attached to the panel 1. The seat is so designed that when the mattress containing frame and panel I is swung from the vertical closed position within the cabinet to the horizontal open position, the seat folds to be contained within the space underneath the horizontal panel.

In carrying out the foregoing arrangement a pair of forwardly extending arms 4! are secured to the front face of the panel 1 and are positioned substantially in alignment with the pins 6 about which the mattress containing frame swings. The seat 42 is supported upon an L-shaped frame 43 having its rear vertical end members 44 pivotally attached to the outer ends of the arms 45, whereby the arms constitute a support for the inner edge of the frame 43. A pair of swingable legs A5 are positioned underneath the front edge of the frame 62 and have their upper ends pivotally attached to the frame.

The lower ends of the legs are pivotally mounted upon brackets 66 carried upon a base and skirting member M. A pair of arm rests 48 are mounted upon the frame 83 at the ends of the seat 62, and a seat back 45 is swingably mounted upon the pins 59 carried upon the rear portions of the inner faces of the arm rests 48 and is arranged to normally rest against the upper ends of the vertical members 434 when the seat is in the open position, as illustrated in Fig. 11.

When the bed is being opened the forwardly and downwardly swinging movement of the panel '5 causes the arms M to swing downwardly from the horizontal position shown in Fig. into the vertical position shown in Fig. 11, whereby the seat supporting frame 53 moves downwardly and rearwardly about the rearwardly swinging movement of the legs 45, so that the seat folds into the position shown in Fig. 10. Before the panel 1 is swung downwardly the seat back 49 may be swung forwardly to rest upon the seat 42, or if this is not done the forward swinging movement of the panel l will cause the panel to contact the seat back and swing it forwardly and downwardly.

6 To assist the seat in its initial unfolding movement when the bed is being closed, a curved leaf spring 5| is secured at one end to the underneath portion of the frame 43 and adapted to resiliently press against the base 41 when the seat is folded.

The spring assists in the upward movement of the frame 43 during the initial swinging movement of the panel 1 to close the bed.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have devised a very simple and practical folding bed structure to which various articles of furniture may be attached, the structure being so arranged and designed that it may be placed in a relatively small room without giving the appearance of crowding; and, although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I may make any such changes or alterations that I may at any time deem necessary, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A folding bed structure of the character described comprising an open faced cabinet having a pair of stationary vertical side members, a mattress containing frame pivotally mounted inter mediately of its length between the side members and swingable from a vertical position between the side members to a horizontal position extending outwardly from the side members and inwardly between the side members, a panel secured to the under face of the mattress containing frame and forming a closure for the open face of the cabinet when the mattress containing frame is in the vertical position, a downwardly extending mattress containing frame counterbalaneing spring element anchored at its top to the inner end of the frame and at its lower end to the lower inner portion of the cabinet, a blanket board contained within the cabinet and formed of upper and lower sections hingedly connected together at their adjacent edges, the lower section being hingedly secured to the inner end of the mattress containing frame, the blanket board being movable from one substantially vertical position to another as the mattress containing frame is swung, a moveable spring actuated element supported by the cabinet and bearing against the back of the blanket board to urge it towards the open face of the cabinet and engaging the upper blanket board section when the mattress containing frame is in the vertical position and engaging the lower blanket board section when the mattress containing frame is in the horizontal position, and a blanket board retaim ing element forming a connection between the cabinet and the blanket board and under the restraint of which the movement of the blanket board is limited.

2. A folding bed structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blanket board is hingedly secured to the inner end of the mattress containing frame by a bedding supporting ledge extending forwardly from the lower edge of the lower blanket board section and is hingedly connected at its forward end to the inner end of the mattress containing frame.

3. A folding bed structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a swingable arm is pivotally attached to the inner end of the mattress containing frame to extend in a substantially horizontal direction and to the free end of which the upper end of the counter-balancing spring element is attached, and an arm supporting bracket; is positioned underneath the-swingable arm to en a e saidarm and retain it in'the horizontal-position.

1, wherein the blanket board is hingedly secured to the inner end of the mattress containing frame by a bedding supporting ledge extending forwardly from the lower edge of the lower blanket board section and is hingedly connected at its forward end to the inner endof the mattress containing frame and wherein a swingable arm is pivotally attached to the inner end of the mattress containing frame to extend in a horizontal direction underneath the ledge extending forwardly from the lower edge of the lower blanket board section and to the .free end of such arm. the upper end of the counter-balancing spring element is attached, and an arm supporting bracket is positioned underneath the swingable arm to engage said arm and retain itin the horizontal position when the mattress containing frame is in the horizontal position.

5. A folding bed structure as claimed in claim 1, including a piece of furniture simulating a fireplace secured to the front of the panel which is secured to the mattress containing frame, a pair of fireplace side members flanking the fireplace aperture and swingable with the panel and having their bottoms spaced away from the floor upon which the structure rests, and a pair of base board members resting upon the floor in front of the vertical planes of the front faces of.

the fireplace side members and extending upwardly to substantially the same height as the bottoms of the side members.

6. A folding bed structure as claimed in claim 1, including an arm extending forwardly from the front of the panel which is secured to the mattress containing frame, a seat positioned in.

front of the panel when the panel is in. the vertical position, an L-shaped seat supporting frame and upon the horizontal portion of which the seat rests and having its rear vertical portion pivotally attached to the outer end of the arm which constitutes a support for the rear edge of the L-shapcd frame, and a swingable L-shaped frame supporting leg positioned underneath the forward portion of said frame and having its upper end pi-votally attached to the frame and its 8, lower. end pivotally. mounted .upon a base bracket resting upon thefioor. underneath the seat.

7. A folding bed structure of the character described. comprising an open faced cabinet having a pair of stationary vertical side members.

a mattress containing frame pivotally mounted intermediately. of its length between the side members and swingable from a vertical position between the side members to a horizontal position extending outwardly from the side members and. inwardly between the side members, a.

panel secured to the under face of the mattress containing frame and forming a closure for the open face of. the cabinet when the mattress containing frame is in the vertical position, a downwardly extending mattress containing frame counter-balancing spring element anchored at its top to the. inner end of the frame and at its lower end to the lower inner portion of the cabinet, an arm extending forwardly from the front of the panel, a seat positioned in front of the panelwhen the panel is in the vertical position, an L-shaped seat supporting frame comprising a horizontal portion upon which the seat rests 1 and a vertical portion extending upwardly from the rear. edge of the, seat portion, the vertical portion, being attached to the outer end of the armwhich constitutes. a support for the rear edge of the L-shaped frame, and a swingable frame supporting leg positioned underneath the forward portion of said frame and having its upper. endpivotally attachedto the frame and its lower endpivotally mounted upon a base bracket resting. upon the floor underneath the seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date.

773,606 Tesch Nov. 1, 1904- 791,719 Owen June 6, 1905 1,094,684 Snyder Apr. 28, 1914. 1,367,013 Bradshaw Feb. 1, 1921' 1,386,397" Davis Aug. 2, 1921 1,622,702 Brown Mar. 29, 1927 1,724,066 Bean Aug. 13, 1929 1,813,282. Demlinger July '7, 1931' 1,945,826 Sinclair Feb. 6,.1934 2,316,681 Ferrier Apr. 13, 1943 2,607,046 Driver Aug. 19, 1952 2,644,170 Kelly, Jr., et al July 7, 1953 

